India-Myanmar ties: PM Modi urges ‘fair and inclusive’ elections in meeting with Junta Chief
New Delhi: Prime Minister Narendra Modi met Myanmar’s military ruler Senior General Min Aung Hlaing on August 31, on the sidelines of the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO) Summit in Tianjin, China. During the meeting, Modi expressed hope that the upcoming elections in Myanmar would be conducted in a “fair and inclusive” manner involving all stakeholders.
According to the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA), Modi reiterated India’s support for a “Myanmar-led and Myanmar-owned peace process,” emphasising that dialogue and consultation are the only viable path toward stability. The two leaders also reviewed bilateral ties and discussed cooperation in areas such as development partnership, defence and security, border management, and connectivity projects under India’s Act East policy.
Foreign secretary Vikram Misri told reporters that Modi welcomed Myanmar’s election announcement and underlined that dialogue was key to fostering peace. However, Myanmar’s state-run media claimed India had agreed to send election observers and support Myanmar’s SCO membership bid, claims not reflected in the MEA’s statement.
Rights groups condemned Modi’s outreach, saying it risked legitimising the junta, which seized power in 2021 by toppling Aung San Suu Kyi’s elected government. Justice For Myanmar spokesperson Yadanar Maung accused India of “propping up a criminal junta” and warned that sending observers could grant credibility to what it described as a “sham electoral process.”
The planned elections, scheduled to begin in phases from December 28, have drawn criticism for excluding Suu Kyi’s National League for Democracy (NLD). Hlaing has threatened punitive action against critics of the polls, further deepening doubts about their legitimacy.
Modi’s meeting with the Myanmar military chief follows his talks with Chinese President Xi Jinping in Tianjin, his first visit to China in seven years, as India navigates regional diplomacy aimed at balancing China’s influence in Southeast Asia.
Senior General Min Aung Hlaing and I held talks in Tianjin. Myanmar is a vital pillar of India’s Act East and Neighbourhood First Policies. We both agreed that there is immense scope to boost ties in areas like trade, connectivity, energy, rare earth mining and security. pic.twitter.com/Sxs32TsiTK
— Narendra Modi (@narendramodi) August 31, 2025
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Allahabad HC orders probe into 'reinstatement' of teacher in UP's Barabanki
Lucknow (PTI): The Lucknow Bench of the Allahabad High Court on Friday ordered a probe by the special task force (STF) into alleged irregularities in the rejoining of a teacher at City Intermediate College in Barabanki, observing that the reinstatement appeared to be prima facie illegal.
The court also directed the recovery of the salary paid to the teacher during the disputed period.
A bench of Justice Rajeev Singh passed the order on a petition filed by the college management committee. The court expressed doubts over the roles of the District Inspector of Schools (DIOS), Barabanki, the college principal and the teacher concerned and hence, directed a detailed inquiry into the matter.
Taking note of alleged manipulation of records and misleading submissions, the court ordered the immediate transfer of the Barabanki DIOS to ensure a fair probe. It also directed the initiation of disciplinary proceedings against the then joint director of education of the Ayodhya division.
In its order, the court found that the teacher, Abhay Kumar, was initially appointed as an assistant teacher in 2018 but joined an Eklavya Model Residential School in Chhattisgarh as a lecturer in June 2024 without obtaining permission from the management. His subsequent request to retain the lien was rejected.
Despite this, he was allowed to rejoin the Barabanki College in September 2025 on the directions of the joint director of education and the DIOS, and was even paid the salary for October 2025. The court termed the rejoining "wholly illegal" and lacking any legal basis.
The bench also expressed concern over lapses in communication within the education department and directed the Uttar Pradesh chief secretary to ensure that official orders are communicated through email and WhatsApp as well, to prevent disputes.
The matter is next listed for hearing on May 28 when a compliance report is sought.
